Film Review: The Phoenician Scheme
If Something Gets In Your Way - Flatten It
INTRODUCTION
This is a quick review of the newly released film The Phoenician Scheme. Please note that this is just one of the many movies I will have watched each year, and my initial grade for this film may change over time, for better or worse. To stay up to date on my thoughts about other movies and any potential changes in my opinion on this one, follow me on Letterboxd.
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PLOT
Via Letterboxd: The story of a family and a family business.
REVIEW
If there’s any auteur in modern cinema who’s unapologetically committed to his style, it’s Wes Anderson. His films are instantly recognizable with gorgeous and cute detailed production and costume design that often feel more suited for a stage play than the film theatre screen, and scripts packed with razor-sharp wit delivered so dryly they could rival the Death Valley sun. Anderson’s aesthetic is so distinct that you’re either fully on board with it, or it just isn’t your cup of tea.
Of course, there’s a middle ground occupied by those who generally appreciate his work but feel that, in recent years, he’s been doubling down on his quirks to diminishing returns. Ever since The Grand Budapest Hotel became a top-three contender in the 2014 Best Picture race, his follow-up projects have received increasingly divided reactions. Personally, I’ve felt that his post-Budapest efforts have shown more signs of stumbling than soaring, especially compared to the consistent highs of his 2000s and early 2010s output.
Now comes his latest, The Phoenician Scheme, and once again, critics are split. Some praise it as a return to form; others see it as another example of style suffocating substance. Wherever you land, there’s no denying it’s pure, unfiltered Anderson - for better or worse.
I can certainly see why the film has underwhelmed some viewers. Anderson attempts to tackle a wide range of themes including generational trauma, familial dysfunction and buried secrets, the weight of inheritance, greed, legacy, faith, and the search for meaning in life (among others). It's an ambitious mix, but while there are glimpses of depth and intriguing ideas, he doesn’t always follow through. At times, it feels like he's holding back, brushing up against emotional resonance but pulling away before fully diving in.
Much like Taika Waititi in his more recent outings, Anderson leans heavily on his signature aesthetic in an attempt to elevate the material above some of its script-level shortcomings. And while that signature style remains visually impressive and uniquely his, it can’t always compensate for the thematic scatter or the emotional distance the film might create for some.
If you’re not already a devoted Wes Anderson super fan, The Phoenician Scheme won’t be the film that changes your mind. And if you’re one of those who finds yourself somewhere in the middle, someone who respects his craft but isn’t always won over, this latest effort might just reinforce the feeling that he’s recently stuck in a bit of a creative rut.
However, I have to say that while I can absolutely acknowledge the flaws some critics have been pointing out, The Phoenician Scheme ended up being my favorite Wes Anderson film in quite some time. Despite its imperfections, something about this one just clicked for me in a big way.
At its core, the film plays like Anderson’s comedic riff on 1946’s A Matter Of Life And Death, filtered through his usual dollhouse lens. And it works. The wit here had me smiling and laughing more than I have at any of his films since Isle Of Dogs if not The Grand Budapest Hotel. There’s a sharpness to the humor, a playful delivery that feels both knowing and oddly sincere at the same time.
What I appreciated most is how confidently the film leans into its own eccentricity. It’s well aware that its brand of cheeky, hyper-stylized storytelling won’t land for everyone, and it charges forward anyway. That commitment, that refusal to dilute or sand down its edges for broader appeal, gives The Phoenician Scheme a certain charm and energy that I found genuinely refreshing.
At its core, this is a story about a father reconnecting with his daughter, about a man coming to terms with the fact that his life still needs purpose as he stares down the mortality he so easily dismissed before. It’s about learning humility, embracing vulnerability, and figuring out how to make lemonade when life insists on handing you lemons. Beneath all the stylistic flourishes and Anderson’s signature quirks, there’s a genuinely heartwarming emotional arc here, one that gives the film a surprising sense of warmth and humanity.
Benicio del Toro is an absolute delight in the lead role, bringing a subtle mix of deadpan humor and quiet melancholy that anchors the film beautifully. Michael Cera, meanwhile, turns in what might honestly be my favorite performance of his to date, awkward in all the right ways but with a depth that sneaks up on you. And Mia Threapleton proves she’s well on her way to following in the footsteps of her Oscar-winning mother, delivering a performance that’s both poised and emotionally grounded.
The rest of the ensemble is packed with Anderson regulars and familiar faces, each making the most of their screen time. Whether they’re delivering a single punchline or adding texture to a scene with just a glance, they all help flesh out a world that feels lived-in, idiosyncratic, and unmistakably Anderson.
I’ve been going through a pretty rough personal year, one of those stretches where things you were excited about, plans you were building toward, just don’t come to pass. It’s been a year of setbacks, disappointments, and recalibrations. But The Phoenician Scheme ended up being exactly the kind of cinematic comfort food I didn’t know I needed. Sometimes, a movie hits you at just the right moment, and when it can make you smile despite the weight of what you’re carrying in real life, that’s a win for the film in my book.
I genuinely loved this movie , and I know I’ll be a vocal defender of it for years to come. It’s officially the fourth movie this year to earn an A-tier rating from me, and it absolutely deserves it. If you’re a Wes Anderson fan, this one is a must. And if you happen to be a girl-dad whose daughter also enjoys Anderson’s work, all the more reason to see it.
GRADING
